The 2016 Ottawa County Fair will have rides again after the Fair Board struck a deal with a new company to provide rides for this year's fair, running July 18-24 at the county fairgrounds just east of Oak Harbor.

The Fair Board has signed an agreement with D.N.R., after having only inflatable entertainment last year, Peggie Avers, second vice president of the Ottawa County Fair Board and concessions and rides manager said Friday.

Avers said the board heard complaints about having no rides and that other festivals such as the Walleye Festival in Port Clinton and the Apple Festival in Oak Harbor have rides, but wanted people to understand it was decision based on finances.

Multiple amusement ride companies asked for $25,000 guaranteed in sales in order to book, which is something the fair board found was too much of a risk, Avers said. Whatever money had not been made would have had to have been paid by the Fair Board to the company to reach the $25,000.

"If it had rained all week or just one day or we had low attendance, we would have to pay that money to them," she said. Usually the fair brings in between $15-20,000 which was too low by many company's standards.

Avers said the board was very excited to partner with D.N.R., who had worked with Durant Amusements in the past for fair rides and were now working on their own.

"D.N.R. worked with us and understands that we're a small fair," Avers said. "We've been told there will be a "Kids Day" with discounted ride passes and we'll be posting online when that date is set."

Avers said the fair board, which has seven new members, is working hard to bring back crowd-pleasing events like the rides and the rodeos to the fair.

"We want to bring back the fun things people remember about the fair and build it back up," Avers said.

For now, the board is focused on preparing for its annual "Midway Extravaganza" fundraiser, which is the group's biggest fundraiser and will take place at the fairgrounds with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 20.

jdenton@gannett.com

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Twitter: @jessicadentonNH

MIDWAY EXTRAVAGANZA

What: Fair board's largest fundraiser of the year. Food, drinks, games, raffles all benefiting the 52nd annual Ottawa County Fair

When: Saturday February 20th, 2016. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., dinner is served at 6:30 p.m.